The morning sun crept lazily through the tall, arched windows, its golden rays filtered through translucent, cream-colored curtains. The smell of lavender-scented soap still lingered faintly in the air from the maids' early morning cleaning ritual. A rare sense of peace hung in the room, like the world was holding its breath just for him.
Claude woke up feeling refreshed, the softness of the mattress clinging to his limbs like a warm embrace.
Today was a free day. No forced tea times, no etiquette drills, no awkward dinners pretending to be someone he wasn't.
"Good morning, Young Master."
Roy's monotone voice sliced clean through the peace like a butcher's knife through cake.
'Would've been a good morning if you weren't lurking like a cursed scarecrow in the corner,'
Claude thought bitterly, keeping his face neutral. The sight of Roy standing there, back straight, arms behind him like he was about to murder someone politely, was enough to make Claude reconsider how "free" this day really was.
He resisted the urge to roll his eyes and muttered, "Good morning…"
Without wasting another second, Claude jumped out of bed and marched toward what had become his favorite part of the day.
A bath.
---
Steam clung to the walls like a lazy fog, curling around the delicate ivory tiles that lined the grand bathing chamber. The water was just the right level of warmth which was pleasantly hot, with fragrant oils making the surface shimmer. Claude was neck-deep, arms resting on the edge of the massive stone tub carved with floral patterns, his hair wet and slicked back. He let out a long sigh, the kind you only get after slipping into scalding water that makes you question whether you're relaxing or slowly cooking.
His thoughts wandered as the silence wrapped around him like a wet towel.
He considered studying the list of nobles attending the ball on Friday. Probably a bunch of insufferable peacocks in tailored coats who believed sneezing with grace made them powerful. But then he thought about his Aetheris.
Which he immediately pushed aside like a bad meal.
'Nope. Not today.'
Still, there was something else he could do… explore Aether.
Of course, the real Elyas apparently knew how to use Aether pretty well, so suddenly forgetting all that knowledge and fumbling around like a clueless child would raise eyebrows. And by eyebrows, he meant suspicions that could get him caught, interrogated, and very possibly executed.
So, he had to do it when alone or with someone who didn't know the original Elyas very well.
The issue wasn't where to learn Aether, but how to learn it.
Claude had no foundation to build on. No prior experience. He might as well have been trying to learn swordsmanship by swinging a stick at birds.
That meant he needed a teacher. A very carefully selected one.
He reviewed his options.
Matilda was first. She had been Elyas' personal instructor, and as such, she was immediately eliminated. She'd spot the difference faster than a hawk spots a limping rabbit.
Second was Lloyd. On paper, he seemed like a decent pick—he and Elyas weren't particularly close, which meant Lloyd might not notice if something was off. But there were two huge problems. One: Lloyd was always around Howard, and that meant zero alone time. Two: Claude didn't trust him. At all. Not enough to ask for help, anyway.
Howard? Absolutely not. That man screamed "observant and condescending." Even breathing wrong around him felt like a risk. Claude didn't know enough about him, and he clearly knew enough about Elyas to raise red flags if things didn't add up.
Then, there was the last option.
Roy.
Just saying the name made Claude feel like he was spitting out rusted nails. But in theory, Roy was ideal. He was a hired bodyguard, not a long-time acquaintance. He wouldn't question if Claude asked to "learn" Aetheris Techniques. Better yet, Claude had enough basic knowledge about Roy to manipulate the situation.
There was only one missing detail. Claude didn't know if Roy reported everything back to Howard. And that was kind of important. You know, considering Claude was literally impersonating their precious little noble boy.
'I mean, he is an employee. And what do employees do? They kiss their boss's shoes and snitch the second something interesting happens.'
But then Claude remembered a key piece of Elyas' profile.
Elyas was an Aetheris enthusiast.
Of course! That meant learning new techniques from different people wouldn't be suspicious at all. It would actually be in character. A perfect excuse.
And better yet, Roy probably had a different Aetheris Technique than Matilda. So even if word got around, Howard wouldn't question it. It was perfectly reasonable.
Claude's lips twisted into a sly smirk as he stepped out of the bath, water dripping onto the polished floor. The air was cool and crisp, making his skin prickle.
The maid helped him into an outfit that could be considered modest by noble standards; tailored deep-blue trousers, a crisp white shirt, and a dark vest with gold embroidery. It was tasteful, elegant, and, thankfully, not suffocating.
'Finally. Something useful out of you, scarecrow.' Claude thought, referring to Roy as he adjusted his sleeves and admired the clean cut of the fabric.
They walked in silence, shoes tapping lightly against the smooth stone corridors until they reached one of the lesser-used gardens tucked into the farthest corner of the estate. It was quiet here—no servants, no nobles, just trimmed hedges, scattered benches, and a few marble statues staring into nothing.
Claude stopped and turned to Roy.
"H-hey, Mr. Roy… I've been meaning to ask you something…" he said, infusing just enough awkwardness into his voice to match Elyas' known persona.
Roy raised a brow, his expression breaking from its usual soulless mold.
"Sure, young master. Ask for anything."
Claude smirked internally. Hook, line, and—
"C-can you s-show me y-your Aetheris Technique…?"
Now that got a reaction. Roy's brows furrowed for a split second—an emotion! A real one!
"I can… but if I may ask, why are you requesting this?"
Claude was grinning on the inside like a wolf dressed in velvet.
"Y-you see… I-i l-like learning more about Aether and its uses… y-you are s-strong s-so I assumed that you would have a developed Aetheris Technique that you could teach me…"
Roy's usual uncanny smile returned like a mask snapping back into place.
"Oh, I see! Lord Howard told me about how much of an Aetheris enthusiast you are. It is my pleasure to be able to teach you my technique."
Claude was about to offer a polite thank-you when Roy added something that made his ears perk up.
"But… my technique is harder to learn than most, as it requires efficient sensing and manipulating technique."
Roy looked at a nearby tree… he walked to it… and with just the movement of his finger he was able to carve the wood as if there was an axe thrusted into it… it wasn't enough to cut off the tree but it was enough of an example to see how powerful this technique is.
"As you see Young master, my Technique revolves around focusing enough of my Aether in the tips of my fingers to make it as sharp as an axe. While also leaving enough Aether circulating normally to make it seem as if I wasn't using it at all."
Roy tilted his head slightly before stepping over to a nearby tree. With a subtle flick of his finger, he carved a clean line into the bark. It wasn't deep enough to fell the tree, but it sliced through the wood like butter. No blade. No obvious motion.
Just power.
"As you see, young master, my technique revolves around focusing enough of my Aether at the tips of my fingers to make them as sharp as an axe. At the same time, I allow enough Aether to circulate normally so it appears as if I am doing nothing at all."
Claude's eyes widened. He couldn't sense Aether at all, but the description alone made it clear—this was the technique for him.
It was stealthy, deadly, and practical. The perfect ability for someone who planned to smile politely while metaphorically (and maybe literally) stabbing everyone in the back.
Claude's lips curled upward.
He was smiling like a maniac.